HPDBC Chapter 221 : Chapter 221
Chapter 221 : Chapter 221
There was an unpleasant incident, but such is life, where various things happen and feelings get hurt.It couldn't be helped.
Anyway, I returned home.
Perhaps because it was the end of the year, it was quieter than I expected.
‘What a relief.
It’s truly a relief that the continent doesn’t have a developed delivery service.’
Our café only accepted deliveries for large orders; otherwise, customers had to come to the store and pick them up themselves.
Having already had parties during Christmas, it was the continent’s culture for everyone to spend the year-end quietly at their respective homes.
‘Tomorrow will be busy.’
There were no year-end events, but there was a New Year's event.
A banquet hosted by the Imperial Family… where crucial decisions of the Imperial Family would also be announced.
Before entering the café, I glanced at the three-story house built next to it.
It seemed the interior would be completed in two days.
‘A storm is brewing.’
Since Adela had given up the throne, Prince Kazaks' investiture ceremony as Crown Prince would proceed.
And… they might announce the news of the Emperor's deteriorating health.
That's why Elidore's ducal succession happened so quickly.
What would happen if incidents in the Imperial Family and the Four Great Ducal Families erupted all at once in the new year?
They needed to handle things slowly and sequentially to even attempt to manage the aftermath.
‘Well, Duke Arnold and Luri suffered for a while, but.’
It was all in the past.
It was also a necessary event.
‘Luri and Adela gave up a lot.’
Whether it was to prevent chaos on the continent… I wasn't sure.
In any case, their actions greatly contributed to preventing political strife.
They were probably spending their days incredibly busy with year-end settlements even now.
‘I should get to my own work.’
Perhaps our café had become famous as a hotspot, as all the tables were full.
These were people spending their year-end evening at our shop.
They were all probably regulars.
From what I could see, even I, with my short working hours, recognized a sea of familiar faces.
As I entered, Bianca, who was at the counter, saw me and smiled brightly.
“Ah, President Martin!”
Then, with a clatter, Lilac peeked her head out.
“Master! Welcome back!”
“I’m back.”
The number of customers wasn't small, but it wasn't large either, yet Lilac seemed busy, so I asked.
“You look busy.”
“Huh? Ah, yes. I was preparing because you hired an additional employee.”
…?
An unexpected answer came back, and for a moment I was speechless, then I let out a stupid sound.
“Huh?”
“…Pardon?”
Lilac, perhaps because my reply was so unexpected, asked again.
“The employee, didn't you hire someone…?”
“I haven’t hired anyone….”
“Uh, uh uh…? But, a letter definitely came….”
Saying that, she fumbled in her pocket and took out a golden envelope.
Could it be, I thought, and read the letter.
[To the café ‘Maid and Butler’.]
It was a letter addressed not to me, but to the café.
[I have received Martin’s permission. I will prepare to start work.]
From the content, which was just one line, I could tell the writer's personality.
[Adela von Hamerd Imperium.]
“Good heavens.”
“Since she’s your friend, Master, I couldn’t just ignore it, so I prepared for now and was going to ask you if it was true.”
Lilac’s explanation, which she laid out as if making an excuse, was correct.
I would have done the same.
But, hmm….
“…Were you serious?”
The café employee story.
It was so absurd that it just slipped out of my mouth.
“Of course.”
I turned around to see Adela, who had opened the door and come in at some point.
“As promised, I have come to work.”
She looked at me with a dignified posture, wearing an academy cadet uniform with her arms crossed.
…How could I kick her out without causing friction?
- Know-It-All (Master) analyzes that hiring Adela is a shortcut to a new wind for the café, better sales, and neutralizing excessive workload!
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
Even to my ears, it was nonsense.
“What are you doing? I have arrived, yet you do not greet me.”
To entrust customer service… to that Adela?
I slightly turned my head and spoke to Lilac, who was just looking at me, not knowing what to do.
“Lilac, have you made preparations?”
“Ah, yes…. I did prepare a maid uniform with the measurements I memorized when I saw her before….”
“Good, get her ready.”
This worked out well.
“Princess Adela.”
“I permit it, speak.”
“Give it a try.”
Letting her walk out on her own two feet after tasting the spiciness of the food service industry would be an excellent education.
“The basic policy of Café Maid and Butler begins with ‘the attire of all employees.’ So you must wear a ‘maid uniform,’ but can you handle it?”
You’re going to wear this?
Really?
Seriously?
…That was my intention.
“Of course. Attire only makes my nobility shine brighter; it cannot hide the essence of shining gold.”
With that, Adela followed Lilac to the staff changing room.
And….
“Behold, my beautiful form.”
Adela in a maid uniform was different, but just as she said, she was the same.
Just as the clothes only made her nobility stand out more, it couldn't hide the essence of shining gold….
Her golden eyes and hair were the same.
They shone so brilliantly that the maid uniform looked more like an angel's wings.
Pfft!
I saw customers at the tables spitting out their drinks.
They were noble customers who had come up from the countryside….
Thinking this couldn't go on, I unleashed my ultimate move.
“Let's start with customer service.”
“Fine.”
Just then, Savo appeared from inside, pushing a tray.
“Two Coco Cakes and two Zazara Tea Relaxers are ready.”
“I shall handle it.”
She confidently snatched the tray and headed for a table.
However, Adela, who was not familiar with the shop, would have no way of knowing the table number and the customer who ordered!
I thought she would naturally ask for my help, but.
“Listen, you ignorant fools.”
Adela's voice dominated the store.
“Two Coco Cakes, two Zazara Tea Relaxers. The impudent customer who ordered the above menu should turn themselves in before me.”
‘Stop!’
My heart sank.
These were regulars among regulars who visited our café even at the end of the year!
VIPs among VIPs!
“You need not speak. I will find you somehow. Even to the ends of the continent.”
Adela’s golden eyes shone with authority.
I looked back and saw Lilac, seemingly in shock, with her mouth agape like a goldfish.
“Th-that….”
A middle-aged gentleman at table 17 raised a trembling hand, his face pale as he stammered.
“I-it is I, Your Highness the Princess…!”
“So it is you.”
Adela approached, pushing the tray.
The clatter of the rolling wheels sounded like the friction of a guillotine falling.
‘Argh!’
That person is one of our café's biggest customers, placing a group order once a month!
His monocle and mustache were also trembling with fear.
Even his wife and son were sitting with him at the same table.
‘I-it's not too late! Should I drag Adela out right now?!’
Thinking about the princess' dignity and the crime of lèse-majesté, my feet wouldn't readily move.
- Wild Instinct (Master) says to watch the situation just a little longer. It won't be a complete disaster! Adela is a thinking person too!
- Know-It-All (Master) shouts not to move! If you stay still, Princess Adela will take care of everything! It will definitely go well! This is a hit!
Even Wild Instinct and Know-It-All were shouting like this!
But no matter how I thought about it, this was not it!
But in that moment of hesitation, Adela had already arrived in front of the customer.
“You there.”
“Yes, yes, Your Highness the Princess!”
Adela looked down at him.
“Two Coco Cakes, two Zazara Tea Relaxers. Though it infuriates me, it is an excellent menu composition.”
She slowly moved the dishes from the tray.
The middle-aged couple stared at Adela as if they had lost their minds.
Looking at the two of them, Adela smirked.
“It is impudent to know the café’s main menu as well as I do. But I acknowledge that discerning eye, so I shall personally bestow it upon you. Continue to contribute fully to this store’s sales in the future.”
“Y-Your grace is immeasurable!”
Just as Adela heard the middle-aged couple’s reply and turned to leave.
She reached out her hand… and patted the head of the innocent-looking child.
“Eat well. It is delicious.”
“Yes!”
At the child's resounding answer, Adela smiled broadly.
“A splendid answer. With such great ambition, you will do great things in the future.”
She soon returned, pushing the tray.
I could hear a sigh from behind.
Adela stood before me, her face full of satisfaction.
She spoke proudly, with a face expecting praise.
“How was it, my first mission performance? Was it not excellent?”
“I’m sorry, but.”
“Yes. I permit it. Praise me!”
“Are you out of your mind…?”
In the end, I hired Adela, who was throwing a tantrum asking to be hired, as a beverage-making assistant in the kitchen.
***
When do people in the world most often set new goals and make resolutions?
It would probably be the ‘New Year.’
January 1st.
The new year had dawned.
On the continent, it was a season as important as the Imperium Empire's Founding Festival.
There was a banquet hosted by the Imperial Family.
Attendance was mandatory unless there were unavoidable circumstances.
“Master, you look wonderful.”
Dressed in the Ulvhadin uniform with a deep green robe over it, I boarded the carriage with Lilac.
This was due to the imperial etiquette that the head of a family must be accompanied by one servant.
The carriage departed.
Looking around, I could see carriages with brilliant family flags everywhere.
‘I should probably walk.’
Last time, I almost got into trouble for using a regular carriage among the family-head-exclusive carriages.
I managed to get a ride in the Star Maiden's, or rather, the Director's carriage back then, but there was no guarantee it would happen again.
The fortunate thing was that Lilac was no longer an ordinary person.
‘Let’s jump the wall.’
If I couldn't skip it, and I couldn't enter without a carriage!
The answer was set!
…As if to make my decision pointless, a carriage pulled up beside mine.
“Ah, excuse me.”
The carriage running alongside ours was clearly embroidered with the crest of the ‘Humanity Preservation Agency.’
The window opened, revealing the Director wearing a black mask.
“It’s been a while, Patriarch Martin.”
“Greetings.”
“How about it this time as well?”
He was asking if I wanted a ride.
“Then I’ll be grateful.”
There was no reason to refuse an offer for a ride.
I had things to discuss with the Director anyway.
After stopping the carriage and paying the coachman, I boarded the Agency's carriage.
“Excuse me.”
The Director raised his hand in greeting.
“Welcome, Patriarch Ulvhadin.”
“Thank you again for this, Director.”
Seeing his all-black mask felt new.
To think the Star Maiden blessed by Cosmos was behind it….
It was surprising no matter how many times I thought about it.
“Hello, Maid.”
Lilac, who had been sitting quietly next to me, widened her eyes.
She probably didn't expect him to greet her.
But her surprise was momentary.
She quickly composed herself and showed her respects.
“Greetings, Director. It is an honor to meet you. I am Lilac, the maid who serves the Patriarch of Ulvhadin.”
“Yes, Maid Lilac. This is our second meeting.”
The first time was then.
The Agency raid incident.
“I have heard much about you.”
…This is unsettling.
“Ah… about me?”
“Yes. Patriarch Martin here praised you so much his mouth went dry.”
“Director…?”
“Ahem-hem.”
When I shot him a ‘have you lost your mind?’ look, the Director cleared his throat and cut himself off.
“Anyway, I wanted to meet you. Your skill with the anti-materiel sniper rifle was quite impressive.”
“Ah, ahh….”
He was talking about the time of the Agency raid.
Meanwhile, the carriage continued on and arrived in front of the Imperial Palace.
As I was about to get off, I noticed something people were wearing.
It was a peculiar brooch handed out by the Imperial Family.
“Hmm, we should get one each as well. Maid Lilac, I would appreciate one each for myself and Patriarch Martin.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Lilac immediately walked quickly to the place where the New Year brooches were being distributed.
I silently watched her back, then.
“Is there something you wish to say?”
I closed the carriage door.
Only then did the Star Maiden take off her mask.
The daughter of Cosmos, blessed by the stars, revealed her form.
“That child prayed a prayer of love to Lord Cosmos for you.”
“You can know such things?”
“Without an equivalent miracle, it’s impossible to explain the stellar force of someone who has been honing constellation techniques for less than a year. More importantly, there's no way we could perform a ‘Star Constellation Advent’ side by side. Especially if it's the ‘Hunter Constellation’ and the ‘Hunting Dog Constellation.’”
Hearing it, it all made sense.
“…Kim An-hyun.”
“Yes.”
“You love her, don’t you? Miss Lilac.”
“…”
“Love can become perfect when it is two-way. Of course, that is not an easy thing. There may be unavoidable circumstances.”
“….”
My heart is pounding.
“For example, a wimpy novelist from another planet who possessed the body of a master he was indebted to in his youth and vowed to serve for life.”
“…What is it you want to say?”